What is EDLA Certification and Why It Matters for Interactive Displays in K-12 Classrooms
By Owen Matson, Ph.D.
Has this ever happened to you? You’re preparing for a lesson and, to engage your students, you decide to use an interactive quiz from Kahoot! to review key concepts. You’ve set up your presentation in Google Slides, but now you need to integrate the results of the quiz into your lesson plan. So, you take a screenshot of the Kahoot! results, crop it, and manually paste it into your slide deck. But the data isn’t interactive anymore, and you’ve just spent valuable time wrestling with technology instead of focusing on your students.
If this sounds familiar, then you’ll want to know more about EDLA.
Yes, "EDLA" is yet another vague acronym from the world of technology and education—as if either of these fields were lacking for variations of acronymic obfuscation. But unlike many other buzzwords, EDLA stands for something that can directly improve your classroom experience, specifically when it comes to interactive displays and integrating educational technology. In this article, I’ll explain what EDLA certification is, why it matters for interactive displays in K-12 classrooms, and how it helps eliminate the type of tech headaches that all too often disrupt our teaching efforts. Let’s dive in.
What Is EDLA Certification?
Enterprise Device Licensing Agreement (EDLA) is Google’s way of giving certain Android-based devices—like interactive classroom displays (the ones you may use in your class)—a seal of approval. Let’s break this down a bit. First, “android-based” means the interactive touchscreen displays in your class run on the same operating system you might have on your smartphone or tablet. The interactive touchscreen displays you use in your classroom work on this same Android system. Because these displays share the same platform as your phone or tablet, you can use familiar Google apps and features without much fuss. However, to guarantee everything works smoothly in a school environment, Google has created this special certification process.
When a device is EDLA-certified, it means it has gone through rigorous testing to make sure it works smoothly with Google Mobile Services (GMS—yes, another acronym). Think of GMS as the backbone for many Google apps and features you already know, such as Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Chrome. If a device passes these tests, it’s a signal that you, your students, and your school’s IT staff can rely on it to open and run Google tools without glitches, crashes, or other technical hurdles. This reliability is especially important in the classroom, where lessons need to move along without unexpected tech issues. By using EDLA-certified devices, you can focus more on teaching and less on figuring out why the display or an app isn’t working.
To earn that certification, devices must prove they meet Google’s high reliability, compatibility, and security standards. This covers everything from how easily the device handles software updates to how quickly it launches apps. In short, EDLA-certified devices are designed to make classroom tech simpler and more dependable for everyone involved.
Key Testing Steps
Android Compatibility Test Suite (CTS)
- Purpose: Ensures the device’s hardware and software can run Android apps (like Kahoot! or Quizlet) without crashes or slowdowns.
- Classroom Benefit: Teachers and students experience fewer tech interruptions, keeping lessons on track.
Google Mobile Services Test Suite (GTS)
- Purpose: Verifies integration with core Google apps (Play Store, Drive, Classroom) and adds security via Google Play Protect.
- Classroom Benefit: Easy app installs, automatic updates, and reduced security risks—no extra steps or worries about compatibility.
Software Stability & Security Checks
- Purpose: Confirms that frequent app updates, heavy classroom use, and real-world conditions won’t cause major device hiccups.
- Classroom Benefit: Smooth performance and regular security patches, so you spend more time teaching and less time troubleshooting.
Manufacturer Hardware Stress Tests
- Purpose: Some makers (like ViewSonic) add extra tests for durability, touch responsiveness, and overall build quality.
- Classroom Benefit: A sturdier, longer-lasting display that handles daily wear and tear without mid-lesson failures.
Feel better about all those acronyms now? With EDLA-certified devices, you can focus on teaching—rather than memorizing a new alphabet soup. For teachers, the payoff of EDLA comes down to the following:
Why It Matters
- Seamless Integration
Easily open Docs, Slides, or Classroom on the display, make live edits, and share instantly—no file-format headaches or software conflicts.
- Consistent Performance
Fewer device crashes and smoother app usage keep students focused on learning, not on tech hiccups.
- Security and Updates
Automatic updates and patches ensure data privacy and reduce IT workload over the life of the device.
- User-Friendly Workflows
Teachers can rely on the interactive display to interact with content in real time, from annotating a Google Doc to showcasing a class-made slideshow.
Google Workspace Integration
One of the primary advantages of EDLA-certified interactive displays is their seamless integration with Google Workspace for Education. Whether it’s Google Classroom, Docs, Drive, or Sheets, all of these essential tools work together, without a hitch. Teachers can open assignments, share files, and collaborate with students directly from the display.
Imagine this: A teacher opens a Google Doc on the interactive display to show students how to complete an assignment. Instead of transferring documents between devices or worrying about software compatibility, everything needed for the lesson is already set up. There’s no need to manually upload files or check if they will open correctly—EDLA-certified devices allow you to focus on the teaching, not the tech.
Expanded Educational App Access
With EDLA certification, your interactive display goes beyond just Google tools. You can install and launch a variety of popular educational apps directly from the Google Play Store—including Kahoot!, ClassDojo, and Seesaw—all on the panel itself. This can simplify your workflow compared to using a computer or a basic Android-based screen where you’d typically connect an external device or switch inputs.
For instance, when giving a Kahoot! quiz, you could still run it from your computer hooked to a standard interactive flat panel—but that often means toggling between your computer screen, the IFP input, or dealing with extra wires and potential compatibility issues. On an EDLA-certified display, however, you can launch the Kahoot! app natively on the board’s built-in operating system. This allows you to:
- Display live quiz questions and results without switching devices or inputs.
- Quickly jump to another app or a digital whiteboard on the same panel (e.g., to review quiz answers or annotate a Google Doc in real time).
- Minimize tech hurdles (like sideloading or external connections) since EDLA enables one-step app installs right from the Play Store.
In other words, the benefit isn’t just about running Kahoot! itself—it’s about simplifying the entire class flow. You spend less time juggling devices and more time engaging your students with interactive, on-panel activities.
User Experience
In addition to functionality, the user experience is a major factor in making technology work for teachers and students. EDLA-certified interactive displays provide a customizable interface, allowing educators to set up the device to suit their classroom needs. Whether it's quick access to Google Drive or launching a particular app, the device can be configured to enhance productivity and minimize distractions.
What’s more, EDLA-certified devices ensure that teachers and students won’t be bogged down by technical problems or interruptions. The devices undergo rigorous testing to ensure stability and reliability, so teachers can trust that the technology will work when they need it most.
Conclusión
EDLA certification offers K-12 schools and educators a reliable solution for integrating interactive displays into their classrooms. By ensuring compatibility with Google’s suite of services, providing access to a broad range of educational apps, and simplifying the user experience, EDLA-certified devices reduce the tech-related frustrations that can interrupt lessons and hinder student engagement.
The seamless integration provided by EDLA-certified interactive displays means that educators can focus on what they do best—teaching—without worrying about whether the technology will work as expected. As we continue to explore the role of EDLA in this blog series, it’s clear that this certification provides a practical and effective solution for enhancing both teaching and learning experiences in the classroom.
If you’re considering the adoption of interactive displays in your school or district, EDLA certification should be at the top of your list when evaluating potential devices. Explore our EDLA-certified display solutions and see how they can enhance classroom learning.
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